Raer Afuola

Growing up, food was scarce, so I turned scraps into meals for my family. Hunger didn’t break me—it sparked my creativity, teaching me to cook with grit and imagination. That drive still fuels me, but now it’s bigger. Blending passions like writing and music, I’m inspired to be the first in my family to forge a bold legacy. I cook to show my cousins you don’t have to pick one path—you can fuse what you love.

My all-time favorite dish to make is chili lemongrass chicken over rice, inspired by my grandma’s cooking. It’s simple—chicken, spice, rice—but it’s everything to me. The process calms me, keeps me rooted. One bite, and I’m back with her, tasting love in every bite; it’s more than food.

With $25,000, I’d fuel my brand, 4 Broke Sisters, to inspire resilience and authenticity in my community. I’m not chasing the typical chef path—no restaurant for me. I’d dive into ecommerce, launching digital content and tangible goods like spice mixes and cookbooks, blending my culinary hustle with passions like music and art. It’s about diversifying the food world while staying true to all of me, showing folks you can thrive outside the box.